TWO of the region's chief constables have gone head-to-head in a public debate about the future of North-East policing.

Sean Price, of the Cleveland force, and Paul Garvin, of the County Durham force, both believe their ideas would be best for the region's residents.

The two police chiefs clashed in front of Teesdale District Council in a lengthy seminar at Barnard Castle, County Durham.

Mr Price wants his force to link up with the southern section of Durham, taking in Darlington, Sedgefield, Wear Valley and Teesdale, to form a new organisation with just over 2,500 officers.

He says Cleveland Police already has experience of dealing with major crimes and anti-social behaviour, and could easily link up with the other districts to give a first-class public service.

He told councillors: "We are committed to giving the best service we possibly can. A common problem everywhere is that people are afraid to go out at night because of anti-social behaviour.

"We try to solve that problem, not just by moving youngsters from one street corner to another. We deal with it properly, and that would be the case in these other districts, if we link up with them."

Asked if his suggestion would lead to some rural areas, such as Teesdale, getting less attention than heavily populated places, such as Middlesbrough, he said his force already covered rural areas with community policing, and that would not be diminished.

But Mr Garvin said the public would get a better service from a much larger force with about 7,500 officers, which would be created by his choice, of joining the present forces of Cleveland, Durham and Northumberland.

He said that if Cleveland joined part of Durham, council tax bills in Band D would rise about £50 a year, whereas if his option was chosen "you will have as good if not better a service than you have now at no extra cost."

Councillor Arnold Smith asked Mr Garvin if he would ensure that the people in his village - Evenwood - would have to put up with the same amount of anti-social behaviour than they suffer at the moment.

The chief constable replied: "I can't promise that you will get more officers on the ground, but we will have the resources to tackle drug-dealing, illegal booze-running and illegal cigarette imports - all of which lead to trouble at local levels."

Council leader Councillor Ken Robinson said the seminar was arranged to help members decide which option to support when they are asked in the near future to say how the North-East police service should be restructured.